Mangaluru: With the state government keenly wanting to execute the Yettinahole project to feed water to parched districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur and others by diverting water from tributaries of river Nethravati, Department of Forest and Environment has given its nod to fell 4,995 trees and 1,332 bamboo groves over the 13.93 acres of land in Sakleshpura forest range.

The timber procured by felling the trees will be stocked up at Hassan timber yard, as per the orders of the state government. However, it is to be noted that the Forest Ministry has given its consent to clear the forest cover to make way for the project under the condition that the land would continue to be under the Department of Forest and Environment even after the project gets functional and not under the ownership of Karntaka Neeravari Nigam. An equal expanse of land would be handed over to the Forest department in lieu of the land given for the Yettinahole project. The department has put for 53 conditions including that water would be pumped between June 15 to October 31 every year.

There were allegations that trees were cut down without obtaining prior approval of the ministry of environment and due to the same issue cases stand registered before the Green Tribunal. The tribunal is likely to issue its final orders relates disputes raised shortly.